Audio Adrenaline - Lift

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

After a bit of a sabbatical (and a greatest hits compilation) America's big selling purveyors of pop rock return with possibly their best album ever (hey, didn't Martin Purnell say something similar about the new Third Day, also reviewed in this issue?). This is reminiscent in the edgy thrust that made 'Bloom' such a groundbreaker years back, 'Lift' is jam-packed of full-throttle guitars and hooks memorable enough to hang your hat on. Catch the infectious energy; delight to lead singer Mark Stuart - a rock vocalist who has matured mightily down the years - swooping like a banshee on anthems like "Rejoice" and "Lonely Man", chuckle at the tongue-in-cheek lift of "100 Ways To Leave A Lover", and worship God on the soft closer "Tremble", as lovely a worship song as I've heard this year. Pure class.